If one has a koan should one count the breath for 10 times at the beginning of each sitting? Or is counting the breath only done in the beginning phase of practice and when one receives a koan one only concentrates on that day and night without using counting at the beginning of a round of zazen?

October 11, 2015, 7:44 am Sussokan is for changing our awareness. Living in society, our awareness is involved outside, thus we use the sussokan to switch our awareness to face within. If we do not make this effort, then the koan becomes a quiz and the strength to become the koan with your whole being does not arise.